Method for treating coccidiosis

Abstract

The invention is directed to methods for the treatment of coccidiosis and compositions designed to be administered to animals infected with coccidiosis-inducing organism. The compositions contain an osmoprotectant, and especially, betaine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating an animal for subclinical or clinical coccidiosis, said method comprising administering betaine to said animal at amounts efficacious for the treatment of said coccidiosis. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said betaine is administered at the concentration of 0.01 to 0.5 g per kg body weight of the animal. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein said betaine is administered at the concentration of 0.1 to 5.0 kg per kg metric ton of feed. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, wherein said betaine is administered at the concentration of 0.03 to 3.0 kg per metric ton of drinking water. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein said coccidiosis is due to a member to the Eimeria species. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein said member of said Eimeria species is selected from the group consisting of acervulina, ahsata, arloingi A (ovina), bows (smithii), brunetti, caprovina, christenseni crandallis, debliecki, dispersa, ellipsoidlis, faurel, galloparvonis, gilruthi, innocua, maxima, meleagridis, meleagrimitis, mitis, necatrix, ninakohlyakimovae, ovinoidalis, perminuta, praecox, scabra, subrotunda, tenella, truncata, weybridgensis (arlongis B), and zuernii. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6, wherein said Eimeria species is selected from the group consisting of acervulina, brunetti, dispersa, galloparvonis, innocua, maxima, meleagridis, meleagrimitis, mitis, necatrix, praecox, subrotunda, tenella, and truncata. 
     
     
       8. The method of any one of claims 1 or 2-7, wherein said coccidiosis is the result of a vaccination of said animal with a coccidiosis vaccine. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1, wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of poultry, cattle, rabbits, goats, swine, sheep, dogs, cats, birds and fish. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein said poultry animal is selected from the group consisting of chickens, ducks and turkeys. 
     
     
       11. The method of any one of claims 1 or 2-7, wherein said coccidiosis is the result of an environmental infection. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises the administration of a coccidiostat to said animal. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein said coccidiostat is an ionophore coccidiostat. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, wherein said ionophore coccidiostat is selected from the group consisting of: maduramicin ammonium, lasalocid, monensin, narasin, and salinomycin. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein said ionophore coccidiostat is salinomycin. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 12, wherein said coccidiostat is a chemical coccidiostat. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, wherein said chemical coccidiostat is selected from the group consisting of: amprolium, clopidol, decoquinate, diclazuril, halofuginone hydrobromide, nicarbazin, robenide hydrochloride, and zoalene. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein said chemical coccidiostat is halofuginone hydrobromide.